Rotary oil burners



y 1959 J. J. M emus ETAL 2,893,480

ROTARY OIL BURNERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 29, 1956 J. J. M GILLIS ET AL July 7, 1959 ROTARY OIL BURNERS Filed June 29, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent ROTARY OIL BURNERS John J. McGillis and Hugh D. McGillis, Brockton, Mass.

Application June 29, 1956, Serial No. 594,747

4 Claims. (Cl. 158 -47) This invention relates to improvements in rotary type oil burners. It relates more particularly to improvements in rotary oil burners of the general variety disclosed in our Patent No. 2,738,837, granted March 20, 1956, wherein vaporization of oil is accomplished in a chamber within the burner head from which air is excluded, the vaporized oil, undiluted by air, delivering annularly from the head into intersecting air streams which efiect further atomization of the oil and supply oxygen for combustion of the oil. Reference also is made to our copending applications Serial No, 433,486, filed June 1, 1954, which has matured into Patent No. 2,815,806, dated Dec. 10, 1957, Serial No. 483,970, filed Jan. 25, 1955,

I which has been abandoned, and Serial No. 577,731, filed April 12, 1956, which has matured into Patent No. 2,836,-

231, dated May 27, 1958, wherein certain improvements upon the invention of our said Patent No. 2,738,837 are disclosed and claimed. The present invention improves upon our said patented disclosure and the disclosures of our said copending applications by providing for more eflicient utilization and control and mixing of cold and warm air to attain improved combustion efliciency without need for the careful and critically precise regulation and control of the incoming cold air which heretofore has been required.

Oil burners of the general type to which the invention relates customarily have a rotary head comprising a pair of opposed dished plates or disks fixed in spaced relation on the upper end of a vertically disposed hollow shaft through which oil delivers between the plates or disks. The oil is vaporized and atomized between the plates and discharged centrifugally around the periphery of the rotating burner-head. In our said prior patentand copending applications, the vaporization and atomization of oil which takes place between the dished plates or disks.

is accomplished without any air being admitted to the space between the plates or disks, and the discharging oil is substantially undiluted by air, andthe air for combustion is supplied by intersecting streams of air at the combustion region which streams of air also further atomize the oil. 1

It is among the objects of our present invention to provide a rotary oil burner head from which atomized and/or vaporized oil, undiluted by air, is discharged in a stream annularly around the head, and upper and lower annular streams of air are discharged outwardly and downwardly and outwardly and upwardly, respectively, to intersect each other and the stream of oil at two annular, radially different locations, the said lowerair stream being a mixture of fresh air and hot combustion products drawn from the combustion region beside the burner head, and the said upper air stream being a mixture of fresh air and hot air and combustion products drawn from the region of the combustion chamber which is above the burner head. 7

Another object of. this invention is to provide aro'tary oil burner head from which a stream of atomized and/ or vaporized oil and upper and lower streams of airinter- A further object of this invention is to provide a rotary oil burner wherein a sleeve is adjustable for regulating the flow of fresh air to the burner head, and the fresh air passage through said sleeve is surrounded by a substantial quantity of heat insulating material for minimizing conductance of heat in one general direction away from said head.

It is, moreover, our purpose and object generally to improve the structure and operative efliciency of rotary oil burners, and more especially rotary oil burners wherein oil undiluted by air delivers from the head in atomized and/ or vaporized condition; and air for combustion delivers from the head in streams which intersect each-other and the stream of delivering oil at an annular combustion of the oil.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view, with some parts in elevation, of a rotary oil burner embodying featuresof our present invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional plan view, on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view with the burner shaft in cross-sectionon line 3--3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is'a fragmentary top plan view of our improved oil burner.

Referring to the drawings, a rotary oil burner head, indicated generally at 10, may be supported in a conventional manner by legs or posts 12 which also may support an electric motor 14 with means (not shown) for adjustment of the motor vertically in general parallelism with the legs. Usually, the legs 12 also include provision for adjustment of their lengths to facilitate proper positioning of the head 10 with its axis vertical even though a floor or other support may be uneven.

A generally horizontally disposed platform 16 is fixed on the upper ends of legs 12 and has a relatively large Refractory elements 32 of a heater ordinarily reston platform 16 outward of and all around the annular enlargement 28 of flange portion 26.

Motor 14 has a vertically disposed shaft 34 of con ventional hollow form, and oil from any suitable source is conducted upwardly through the shaft to the burner head 10 which is shown fixed on an extension of the shaft 34 for rotation with the shaft when motor 14 is running. As represented in Fig. 1, the hollow motor shaft 34 has its upper end connected to a hollow extension 38 on'lthe upper end of which are rigidly secured the elements of the rotary burner head 10. Extension 38 has the cylindrical enlargement 40 thereon, and has one threadedportion' 42 below the head 10 andianother threaded portion 44,,of',

h reduced diameter, at the upper end of extension 38.:

Two dished annular plates 46, 48 are clamped region of to extension 38' with their dished or concave sides toward eaclrother and with their peripheral lips-spacedslightly apart. Upper plate 46 has acentral hole for receiving the upper threaded end portion 44 of extension 38 and is clamped againstthe shoulder at the upper side of' enlargement 40'by meansofnut 50,' witha third dished plate-52 andspacing collar*5.4 intervening between theplate 46 andin The dished plate 48 which isbelowplate 46 hasa central opening whereby it may be arranged-on extension 38 of'the motor shaft beforethe lowerend of the extension is" connectedat' 36: to the motor shaft; andthis-plate-48- maybe slid along" extension 38 intoengagement with the shoulder at the lower end of enlargement 40, and" clamped against the shoulder when'nut 56' is tightened on the-threaded portion 42 of the'extension38.

Before clamping the plates 46, 48'to extension 38, by tightening'ofnuts 50; 56, a series of short rigid-tubes 58 are loosely assembled in spaced positions to extend generally in vertical directions across the space between the. plates 46, 48. The opposite ends of the tubes maybe exteriorly taperedfor enteringplate holes 60 which are slightly smaller in diameter than the exterior diameter of the tubes. Hence, when plates 46, 48 are clamped'to xte si n y ti ht n u 5 56 ep e tube ends become gripped i.b.y,the walls of'plate holes 60 and.

the tubes effectively plug the holes against passage ofair between the exterior surfaces ofthetubes and the walls of plate holes 60. But, the tubes 58'provide substantial air passages extending vertically across the space between the dishedj.plates',46,48 with none of this air. havingaccess to the 'space'between the plates 46, .48.

The hollow or bore of extension 38 extends into and terminates within the enlargement 40; as at 41; and a, series of relatively small diameter passages 62 extend radially outward" through the enlargement 40' from the terminal portion 41 of the bore. Oilconducted upward through motor shaft 34 and its extension 38' delivers through the radial passages 62.into the space between dished plates. 46,48. Preferably, the hollow motor shaft 34' and/or the hollow extension 38, or any desired portions thereof, will be provided with'means such as the interior threads 39 in extension 38, for inducing or aiding theupward travel of oil and especially the heavier and more viscous oils, such as No. 6 fuel oil, for example.

Inasmuch as the plates 46,48 are rigid on the relatively high speed rotatingburner head, oil delivering into the.

space between plates 46, 48 is carried outward on and between the plates by centrifugal force, with substantial vaporization and/ or atomization of the oil being, accomplishjed' between the plates 46, 48' while air is, excluded from thespace between the plates. and/or! atomizedoil substantially undiluted by air discharges from the slightly spaced peripheral lips, of theclined' outwardlyv and, downwardly at 53.; The'fan blades 64; are locatedhetweenplates-46 and521.

Avfourth dished plate .68 is mounted on theburner head below dished plate ts audit has a diameter substantially the same, as plate 52, with its outer. marginal portion,inclined' outwardly andupwardlyat 69. As shown, plate 68; hasa central opening. through'which the exteriorly threaded portionlZ' of extension .38loosely extends, with a spacing collar, 70f loose on the. extension and, intervene iuabet eenrlat sAfi andl68v andrwith nutfid in position Hence, vaporized to clamp plates 48, 68 and collar 70 together and against the under shoulder of the enlargement -40 of extension 38. Plate 68 has one annular series of holes 72 therein, each hole bing generally opposite one of the vertical tubes 58. Another annular series of smaller holes 74 in plate 68 are outward from the holes 72.

The structure thus far described is generally similar to the comparable structure disclosed in our said co-pending application Serial N0. 577,731.

Our present invention provides a smoother and more concentrated flow of'incoming cool airto the burner head and minimizes conduction of heat from the extremely hot region ofthehead downward to the-motor 14. More important, however, is the, introduction of means in the burner head whereby relatively hot air and products of combustion which normally accumulate above the burner in the combustion chamber are drawn into the stream of air which is moving outwardly between the two upper plates 46 and .52. Heretofore, thisaccumulation above a burner of hot air and hot products of combustion has presented a problem in that the burner head would become objectionably heatedthereby. In some cases it has been found necessary, or desirable, to insulate the upper surface portions of the burner head from the extremely hot gaseous products accumulated'above the burner.

According to our present invention, the upper plate 52'is provided with an annular series of holes 76 disposed outwardly of: the circle of the short tubes 58. Hence, the outwardly moving stream of air, supplied by the airpassing upwardly through the tubes 58', draws hot airandhot gaseous products of combustion from above theburner into the stream through the holes 76. The region above. the burner is'therehy relieved, and the air and gaseous products. inthe stream which issues outwardly and downwardly from between the plates 46, 52 is in an improved condition for contributing to atomization and/0r vaporization of oil and effective combustion of, the oil. Hot'products of combustion from regions surrounding the burner head are drawn, primarily through the holes 74'1i1'1 lower plate 68, into the lower stream which delivers outwardly and upwardly from between the plates 48 and 68, generally the same as in our said co-pending application Serial No. 577,731.

The adjustable sleeve 20', below the burner head, has a frusto-conical member 78 mounted therein with its smaller end open and disposed under the portion of'plate 68 which intervenes between the two circular series of holes 72', 74 and'movestoward or from plate 68 when sleeve 20' is adjusted by means of screw 22. Hence, a large part of the upwardly delivering relatively cool air passes upwardly through the inner circle of holes 72 in plate 68 and through the tubes 58. A cover 80 closes the upper end of sleeve 20 around member 78, and, preferably, a substantial mass of asbestos 82, or other heatinsulating material, fills the space within sleeve 20 which surrounds member 78 below the cover 80. The asbestos serves to minimize conductance of heat from the burner head downwardly to the motor 14.

When the burner headrotates at relatively high speed, the fan blades 64, 66 induce, air circulation by drawing cold or relatively cold, air into the lower end of sleeve 20 through the manually operable shutter-type valve means 84. Shutter elements ofthe valve means are manually operable by handle 86 for selectively increasing hes zeof. the. air inletpassage through the valve means.

The. fanblades. also. induceflow o. he burner h a qfiwarmqrhot. air. andproducts] of combustion f o th combustion. chamber ofthc h a e with which h rner is associated. Some Qf;this, relatively high temperature ever, an appreciable amount of the inwardly moving warm air is drawn inward past member 78 and into the cold air which is being drawn upwardly through the plate holes 72 and tubes 58 under the influence of the upper fan blades 64., Also, some of the cold air may be drawn outwardly over the upper end of member 78 and into plate'holes 74, and some of the predominantly cold air passing upward through plate holes 72 is drawn outwardly between plates 48, 68 and into the predominantly warm air passing upwardly through plate holes 74. Hence, a mixture of cold and warm air is drawn outwardly between plates 48, 68 by the lower fan blades 66, and this air is propelled outwardly and upwardly across the horizontal plane of discharge of oil from the burner head.

The major portion of the predominantly cold air passing upward through plate holes 72 passes through the tubes 58 to the space between plates 46, 52 with cooling etfect-on the burner head. Under the influence of the upper fan blades 64, this air from tubes 58 is drawn outwardly between plates 46, 52, being heated somewhat by contact with hot parts of the burner head. However, hot air and hot products of combustion are drawn through holes 76 into this outwardly moving stream prior to propulsion thereof outwardly and downwardly across the horizontal plane of discharge of oil from the burner head.

It will be noted that the plates 52, 68 are substantially larger in diameter than the plates 46, 48, and that the inclined margins of the larger plates are located and adapted to direct propelled air in streams which intersect each other outside the peripheries of the plates. Other substantial volumes of the propelled air, in the near vicinity of the fan blades, are driven more directly in streams which intersect each other appreciably inward from the region of intersection of the first mentioned air streams. However, both regions of intersection of air streams are in the general plane of horizontal discharge of oil from the burner head and the atomized and/ or vaporized oil, substantially undiluted by air, is subjected to the action of the intersecting streams of air at the inner region of intersection, represented by the arrows at A, and the air in the streams which intersect at the arrows B will have atomized and/ or vaporized oil mingled therewith in condition to be further atomized and thoroughly mixed with air at the region B. The regions of intersection at A and B extend annularly all around the burner head, and any suitable ignition means 88 may be provided, adjacent the region B, for igniting the fuel mixture.

The treatment of the discharging oil, by subjecting it to the action of intersecting streams of air in succession at radially difierent locations substantially improves the combustion eificiency as described in our said co-pending application Serial No. 577,731. We have discovered, however, that the needed careful and minute adjustment of sleeve 20, which is essential to attainment of a stable flame having maximum combustion efliciency in the burner of our said co-pending application Ser. No. 577,731, is, to a great extent avoided by the herein disclosed induction of hot air and hot gasses into the upper stream from the region above the burner. Actually the sleeve 20 may be set anywhere within a considerable range of positions without appreciably afiecting the stability and high combustion efliciency of the flame produced by our presently disclosed oil burner.

It is intended that the patent shall cover, by suitable expression in the appended claims, whatever features of patentable novelty exist in the invention disclosed.

We claim as our invention:

1. A rotary oil burner for operating within a combustion chamber, comprising a first pair of dished plate elements secured together in spaced relation with their dished sides toward each other to provide an atomizer chamber "between them, a second pair of dished plate elements fixed relative to said first mentioned pair, one plate element of said second pair being spaced above and the other spaced below said first mentioned pair of plate elements, and all of said plate elements being concentric on a common vertical axis for rotation as a unit on said axis, means for delivering oil into the said atomizer chamber, said oil moving outwardly in response to rapid rotation of said plate unit and discharging annularly and centrifugally as a stream of atomized oil from between said first pair of plate elements, means defining flow passages connecting the space between the lower plate elements of said first and second pairs of plate elements with the space between the upper plate elements of said first and second pairs of plate elements, means defining a plurality of radially inner openings and a plurality of radially outer openings through the lower one of said second pair of plate elements, means rotatable in unison with said first pair of plate' elements for inducing flow of relatively fresh air through said radially inner openings and thence in substantial part through said connecting passages to and outward within said space between the upper plate elements of said first and second pairs of plate elements for constituting an upper outwardly flowing air stream, another part of said induced fresh air being induced outwardly within the space betwen the lower plate elements of said first and second pairs of plate elements for constituting a lower outwardly flowing air stream, said flow-inducing means and said lower air stream acting to draw heated air through said radially outer openings into said lower air stream, means providing an annular series of openings through the upper plate element of said second pair of plate elements for entrance of heated air from above the burner into said upper air stream, the lower and upper plate elements of said second pair of plate elements having annular marginal portions inclined respectively upwardly and outwardly and downwardly and outwardly for directing said streams of air in directions to intersect each other and said stream of oil discharging from between said first pair of plate elements.

2. A rotary oil burner as in claim 1 wherein said flow inducing means are fan blades disposed annularly on and around the exterior peripheral margins of each plate of said first pair of plates, and wherein there is a frustoconical means below the lower plate which is manually adjustable toward and from said lower plate, said frust0- conical means providing an inflow passage for said induced fresh air, and a substantial mass of heat-insulating material surrounding said frusto-conical means and movable therewith for minimizing conductance of heat downwardly from the said plates of the burner.

3. A rotary oil burner for operating within a combustion chamber, comprising four generally circular plates relatively fixed for rotation in unison in a combustion chamber on a common vertical axis, two adjacent ones of said plates being spaced apart for forming an annular atomizer chamber between them, and the other two plates being spaced, one above and one below the two which form the said chamber whereby a lower flow space and an upper flow space are provided respectively below and above the said chamber, means for delivering oil into said atomizer chamber, said oil moving outwardly between the two said chamber-forming plates, in response to rapid rotation thereof, and discharging centrifugally from between them as an annular stream of atomized oil, means defining flow passages for entrance of fresh air into said lower and upper flow spaces, fan means for inducing flow of fresh air into and through said flow spaces thereby to provide lower and upper outwardly flowing air streams, means defining an annular series of openings through the lowermost and the uppermost plates radially outward from said flow passages, said fan means and said lower and upper air streams inducing entrance of heated air through said openings and into said outwardly flowing lower and upper air streams, peripheral marginal portionsof the lowermost and uppermost plates bei g nc fiedrre pecti ely pwardly nd, ut ar y and rdly ndsoutwa d ytd ir ctl a o n ppe air streams in directions to intersect each other and said annular stream of oil discharging from between said chamber-forming plates, and rneans for controlling the volume of said induced fresh, air in said lower and upper air streams at the region of their said-intersection.

4. A rotary oilhurner as in claim 3 wherein vertically adjustablemeans provides a tapering air-inflow passage having its smaller end open adjacent toa central portion of said, lowermost plate, said air volume'controlling means being at the, larger end of saidinflow passage, said flow passages comprising a, radially inner annular series of openings through said lowermost plate opposite said open smaller end of said tapering inflow passage, and an annular series of relatively short tubes extending across said atomizer ch'amher fr om said lower flow space to sai upper. flow space with thelower en ds ofrsaid tubes generally opposite, said radially, inner openings in the lowermost plate, the first menti0n ,e 1 annular series of qp nin hm h aid e m t Pla e. b in a y outward of said open smaller end-of said tapering inflow passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED. STATES PATENTS 1,410,112 Peirce Mar. 21, 1922 1,442,786 Scherninger Jan. 16, 1923 1,664,410 Greenwald Apr. 3, 1928 1,695,030 Schminger Dec. 11, 1928 2,025,526 Rodler Dec. 24, 1935 2,200,278. Johnston May 14, 1940 2,249,878 Asbury July 22, 1941 2,738,837 Mc Gillis Mar. 20, 1956 F R G ATENTS 104,246 Great Britain Mar. 1, 1917 

